Range expansion of the Asian native giant resin bee <i>Megachile sculpturalis</i> (Hymenoptera, Apoidea, Megachilidae) in France

Abstract

In 2008, a new species for the French bee fauna was recorded in Allauch near Marseille: the giant resin bee, <i>Megachile sculpturalis</i> (Smith, 1853). This was the first European record of this species that is native to East Asia. To our knowledge, it is the first introduced bee species in Europe. Here, we provide an overview of the current distribution of <i>M. sculpturalis</i> in France and we describe the history of its range expansion. Besides our own observations, information was compiled from literature and Internet websites, and by contacting naturalist networks. We collected a total of 117 records (<i>locality</i> × <i>year</i> combinations) for the 2008-2016 period. The geographical range of <i>M. sculpturalis</i> has extended remarkably, now occupying a third of continental France, with the most northern and western records located 335 and 520 km from Allauch, respectively. Information on its phenology, feeding, and nesting behavior is also provided. We report several events of nest occupation or eviction of <i>Osmia</i> sp. and <i>Xylocopa</i> sp. individuals by <i>M. sculpturalis</i>. Our results show that <i>M. sculpturalis</i> is now well established in France. Given its capacity to adapt and rapidly expand its range, we recommend amplifying the monitoring of this species to better anticipate the changes in its geographical range and its potential impacts on native bees.